You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘sports engineer’ category.
When you open your Christmas present this year it might not be obvious that you are helping a revolution in sports science. Some of the most popular presents are likely to be mobile phones, games consoles and computer games and the modern stocking filler now contains more sensory technology than an early space mission. The accelerometer chip that prompts your phone to create light-sabre sounds as you swing it is the same technology that we use to help train the world’s best athletes.
The host nation for the 2022 World Cup will be Qatar, a desert country where temperatures in June and July can reach 50 °C. I find it hard to even imagine that level of heat, let alone play football in it! The extreme temperatures are of obvious concern. So, alternative measures are being considered to ensure games at this tournament are not played at extremely high temperatures. These include playing in the winter or more likely building climate controlled stadiums. At present it looks as though 5 brand new climate controlled stadiums will be built. The primary concern is the detrimental affect of extreme heat on human performance. To a lesser extent, temperature is also likely to effect the physical properties of the ball, changing the speed a player can kick it. This blog will explain the effect of temperature on soccer ball dynamics.
Artist's impression of the Lusail Iconic Stadium
Dr Simon Choppin and Dr Tom Allen are acting as guest editors for a special edition of Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology. The issue looks at the use of predictive modelling in sport and how it can be used to predict new behaviour, essentially how technology influences sports performance! If you’re an academic and have some work which you’d like to submit, we have further information here, including progress with the edition and information on how to submit.
Understanding the physics of the groundstroke in tennis is important for the International Tennis Federation, tennis brands and players. As a research centre we recently published a paper in the journal of Sports Sciences on this subject. Following publication the paper was featured in a short article in Men’s Health magazine.
- Cover of Men’s Health Magazine May 2011
We have known for quite some time here at Sheffield Hallam University the value of using sport to teach science. Sport is ideal for grabbing people’s attention and getting them interested in science, engineering and technology. We often do public lectures which are always packed out by people interested in sport who also want to know more about the science. We explain complex scientific problems and the hard bit is usually trying to stop the questions at the end. If you’re thinking about using sport to teach science (especially as the Olympics approaches) then here are some resources that might float your boat.
Enjoy!
Sports Lab: our very own interactive exhibit in Sheffield’s Weston Park Museum on the science behind the medals.
Sony and the All England Lawn Tennis Club have signed a deal to allow TV viewers to watch Wimbledon in 3D. Along with their partners SuperVision Media, Sony will use their special filming techniques to capture and broadcast live in 3D. Read the rest of this entry »
A couple of weeks ago I discussed the new Ski-Jump world record set in Norway, this time I’m reporting on another record set on UK soil (or a plastic ski slope to be more specific). The record I am referring to is the highest jump from a quarter pipe on a dry ski slope.
On a wet and windy day this February, I travelled to Rossendale Ski Slope in Lancashire with fellow Sports Engineer Heather Driscoll. Although I had visited the ski slope once before as a wide eyed and mal-coordinated teenager to try and learn to ski, I was returning as a nervous and mal-coordinated adult for a very different purpose.
It’s a balmy 35 degrees here in Vienna, and as the sun shines mercilessly our elite group of Sports Engineers are currently ingesting the latest research at the 8th ISEA Sports Engineering conference. Thankfully the International centre hosting the conference has characteristically efficient air conditioning, so for now at least the only things overheating are the many minds trying to absorb such a wealth of engineering information.
Over the next four days I’ll be posting an article giving a quick breakdown of pieces of work which impressed us and might be of interest to those of you keeping abreast of technology in sport. So keep coming back for the hot picks! Read the rest of this entry »
What’s wrong with the pitch at Wembley stadium? A question on the mouths and typing fingers of football pundits and forum dwellers alike. It’s also a concern of many Sports Engineers, having recently attended a conference on sport surfaces I thought it was appropriate to write a few words on the recent revelations on the condition of the Wembley pitch. It was of no surprise to find that this was the main discussion point at the conference, with experts from all ranges of turf science from installation and maintenance to player-surface interactions.
Figure 1: Wembley Stadium, the home of English football since 1923
wiredchop
leonfoster
theclownshoes
David Curtis
stevehaake
drdavidjames
hdriscoll
joemcafield
engsportguest
sheffieldbullet
